Ice Prince

Chapter 1

The armor of the two fighters, who threw themselves at each other with raised weapons, drenched in sweat and skillfully brandished their swords, glistened in the sunshine of the hot summer day. Sunlight reflected off the iron edges of swords clashing in battle, blinding the young prince, who sat on a tree stump a little farther away from the action, watching in boredom. He followed the deft movements of the two, taking notes on what attacks or defenses they used and even writing down when one of them blundered a step, but he wasn't remotely enjoying it. He was tired. Almost every day since he was a child he had to watch knights fight each other to study the art of sword fighting from afar. It was making him mad to sit on the side and watch them, when what he actually wanted to do was taking a sword in his hand himself, to fight. He didn't always want to just watch, but his father the king had never allowed Hongjoong to lay his hands on a sword. And even if he had managed to convince the knights to actively teach him swordplay - which he had tried many times before - his guard dog, who was sitting behind him and watching him at that moment, would have prevented it. Yunho, also known as Hongjoong's personal protector, or also known as the guard dog, because he kinda had the face of a cute dog, but could fight like a wolf, sat on the trunk of the tree that matched the stump. He had taken off his armor, which he usually always wore, because of the heat and aired his shirt. Sweat ran down his forehead and clung to his black strands of hair. He wasn't made for the heat of the south. Born in the kingdom of the west he came here after a wedding, were Hongjoongs father noticed him as a talented fighter. That was when he joined the southern knights, to become Hongjoongs protector, but even though he really enjoyed being his protector and he got along very well with all the people in this kingdom, the wether was his biggest enemy. It was hot! Extremely hot and he was used to colder wether and rain. Rain wasn't really something that happend a lot in the south. But since there wasn't a higher officer, yunho had taken his amor off, so he wouldn't die due to the heat. Hongjoong also didn't mind. He couldn't care less actually. Yunho let out a deep sigh of exhaust and touched his sweaty forehead.

"It's so damn hot again..." Hongjoong turned and looked at Yunho with a spiteful smile.

"If my father didn't insist that I watch this stupid fight again, you wouldn't have any reason to be sitting here in the heat. I now know their fighting style by heart. So if you want to complain about the heat and the sun's rays on your delicate western skin, then go to my father." The knight looked at him in frustration and sighed.

"You know he wants you to have at least a basic knowledge of swordsmanship."

"I did. When can I finally use it?!" The prince replied in frustration.

"Sire, you know why he doesn't want that," he said. Hongjoong just rolled his eyes and turned away from him.

"Yes, because he doesn't see me as a man who's able to fight. Sometimes i believe he things I'm not a born a prince but a princess. When will i start my embroidery lesson?" He shook his head.

"Beomjoong was already a great swordsman at fourteen, was allowed to hunt since he was twelve and never sat on the bench during training." He looked down in frustration and closed his notebook, put it aside and turned to Yunho again around.

"He treats me like a baby!" he scolded, which made Yunho smile.

"I know you don't like to hear that, but you're his youngest son. Beomjoong is heir to the throne, he must be trained in combat."

"And I'm his second son. Do i not have to protect myself? What if I wanted to join the army? Or want to become a knight? What if I get attacked? What am I doing?" Yunho smirked and pointed to the suit of armor lying next to him in the shade of the tree trunk so as not to be heated by the sun.

"Then you stand behind me and let me take out your attackers. As always. And you know, that you're not allowed to join the army. Your brother will be king some day, but you are the heir of the position as Beomjoong's right hand. That's what you're born to." annoyed, Hongjoong got up from the tree trunk with a pout and reached for his shoulder bag, into which he stowed his notebook. Yunho looked at him puzzled.